When it comes to selecting an international school, it has become necessary for parents to consider more than the location of the school. Singapore has a significant number of international schools, providing a wide range of curricular. It can sometimes be overwhelming for parents to determine which system is best suited for their children, and why. Before deciding on the curriculum to use, it is important for parents to appreciate what the different international school curricular entails, and the impact it will have on students.

Montessori Curriculum

The
Montessori curriculum is an education system that focuses on the independence
of the children. Students who use this curriculum get involved in activities
that enable them to learn through experience. Whatever their age, the students
get to choose the activity they prefer. They are encouraged to explore, work
independently, and to be creative as individuals, and as part of a group.

This
system of education follows the innate interest of the children. This means
that the framework keeps changing based on the changing need of the student
population. The lessons this system is integrated with include language, maths,
communication, science, dance, art, and music.

American Curriculum

An
expatriate who has school-going children moving from the United States to
Singapore will naturally consider the American curriculum over the others
offered in other international schools because they seek continuity, especially
for children transferring from schools in the US. Additionally, children to
adjust better to a system they are familiar with.

The
international schools using the American curriculum follow the framework given
by the Overseas Schools Advisory Council and The United States State
Department’s Office of Overseas Schools. This is done to ensure there is
consistency in all schools using this curriculum anywhere in the world, from
Kindergarten to Grade 12. Universities in Canada and the US recognize the
American High School Diploma.

This
system of education, specifically the high school level, allows students some
freedom when it comes to choosing some of their courses based on their
interests and strength. Classes below Grade 10 have a set course which students
must follow but contribute significantly to their personal and educational
growth.

Australian Curriculum

This
curriculum, like all the other country-specific systems, is perfect for
Australians relocating to Singapore, or those that expect to move to Australia
in the future. This curriculum caters for children in the foundation years of
their education up to Year 10. The disciplines this curriculum covers include
English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Arts,
Technologies, Health and Physical Education, and Languages.

The
Australian Curriculum aims to improve literacy, numeracy, communication,
technology capability, creative and critical thinking, personal and social
capability, intercultural and ethical understanding of the students.

French Curriculum

The
French nationals predominantly use the French curriculum. This is primarily
because of the language challenge. The French curriculum has two levels. Level
one covers children from nursery to elementary school. Level two covers lower
secondary and upper secondary.

Level
1 includes the acquisition of knowledge from the children, considering some of
them are below six years of age. The students are also expected to get skills
through lifelong learning leading to success later in life. The priority areas
in this curriculum are French and mathematics. Other subjects include science
and information technology, history and geography, sport, art, and foreign
languages.

From
the age of 11, students enter level 2. This
is Lower Secondary School (Le College)
where students are expected to gain more knowledge and skills. Once the
students get to Upper Secondary School (Le
Lycee), they have the option to follow the general and technological path (voie generale et technologique) or the
vocational path (voie professionnelle).

German Curriculum

The
German curriculum, just like the French curriculum, is favored by German
nationals moving to Singapore, or those intending to continue with the system
when they relocate to German universities. Kindergarten is option for children
between the age of two and six years. Grundschule
is a compulsory level for students between six and ten years. From
secondary school, the German education system gets a little complex.

There
are five different schools that students can attend for their secondary
education. The Gymnasium where Year
12/13 students seat the Abitur final
exam, the Realschule, the Gesamtschule, the Hauptschule (vocational education), and Forderschulen/Sonderschulen. Students who intend to go to German
Universities must sit the Abitur examination.
If vocational or apprenticeship is an option a student is interested in, the Duale Ausbildung is an option such a
student should explore.

Before
enrolling a child to an education system, it is essential for parents to consider
the content of the curriculum, and the plans they have for the advanced levels
of education levels.

The tuition culture in Singapore is sometimes considered quite intense. The tuition industry is worth more than $1billion annually. This culture is, however, not reserved for the students studying the Singapore system. Parents of students in international schools are part of the 80% who believe tuition will help improve their children’s grade.

However,
it is important for parents of children studying the various curricular,
besides the local one, to be cautious when choosing a tutor or tuition center.
According to the statistics of children who seek tuition, based on the level of
education, 57% of the students are in primary school, 21% are in secondary, 8%
are in Junior college and IB, and 6% study the IGCSE system.

Get a tutor who understands the
curriculum

The greatest ratio of tutors are teaching students who are in the local schools. Before signing your child up for tuition, it is important for you to find out if the tutor has any experience with the curriculum.

Using a tutor who has no idea about the teaching approaches of the system of education will only confuse your child further. There is a need for continuity in the method used to help the child understand his teachers and the lessons better.

Decide between tutor centers and
one-on-one tutor

Some children respond well when studying with other students at the student center, while others need individual attention. It is essential for you to understand the needs of your child. If putting him in a class with other students will not be productive, it is best to look for a tutor who will give him the attention he needs to catch up with his classwork and overcome challenges he faces in school.

When choosing a tuition center, if possible, get one that only caters for students of the education system your child is in. Your child will likely meet other students facing the same challenges, and because they study the same thing, it will be easier for them to work as a team.

Discuss your expectations with the
tutors

If you have chosen to take your child for extra lessons at a tuition center, it is vital for you to meet with the tutors to discuss what you expect of them. If, for example, you hope to see your child’s grades improve, but would also like to witness him gaining confidence in the subject, it is best to discuss all this with the tutor.

A good tutor will be able to incorporate your expectations using a teaching style that would be more involving. This way, your child will eventually step up and learn to communicate confidently because he understands the subject.

Seek a trial session

Before
paying for a long-term session, especially if you are not sure about the
capabilities of the tutors at the tuition center, request for a trial session. The
trial period should be sufficient for you to gauge your child’s response, and
for you to be able to determine if you made the right decision or if you should
move on to another center.

The decision to enroll your child to a tuition center is heavily dependent on his potential, and the availability of excellent tuition services for the curriculum you are interested in. If you have no idea where to send your child, you could ask his school’s teachers for referrals.

The society today is very competitive. Everyday, we face competition at the workplace, competition to get into a good college, even competition to get into a good high school. Society’s pressure on kids to do well and has also added pressure on the parents to make sure that their children receive the best possible skills so that they will have a good head start in life. These necessary life skills are usually groomed in the growing up years of a child.

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo

Thus, the school plays a very important role in how well they will do in their future. It can be a very tough process for parents when it comes to choosing the right school for their child. To learn more about private education in Singapore, do check out Singapore International School to understand more about their existing curriculum and teaching style. Below, we will explore some of the ways in which sending your child to a private school can help the child get into better high schools and also better colleges.

Public schools mainly have the same curriculum that all students have to follow and they do not give the student or the parents much choice when it comes to following a certain educational program. In the case of private schools, the students have the liberty to choose between AP or IB courses that are rigorous curriculum that focus more on learning and understanding the different topics that are included in the system rather than just blindly following what the teacher says. This helps the child to develop their own method of thinking and analyzing topics that interest them. The by-product of passionate and inquisitive learning is an increase in the student’s concentration and interest. This helps them be more focused when they choose the path that they want to walk on later in life.

Singapore Private Schools Pay More Attention To Sports

Anyone who has ever played a sport in school can attest to the fact that being a good sportsman can help increase the chances of the student to get into a good college with the help of a sports scholarship. Private schools focus more on sports and extracurricular activities which further helps the students increase the chances of getting into a better college. Many students from private schools are also able to build a future in sports due to the fact that they were a part of a very good sports program in school. Private schools also have a wide variety of options when it comes to the students having to decide which sport to choose.

Private Schools Help Your Child Succeed In College

Studies have shown that out of those students who were enrolled in private schools almost 99% of them graduated high school and 90% went on to finish a 4-year college course. This is due to the fact that private schools such as hire good counselors that help the child as well as their family to explore all of the options that they can choose from and also helps them to make the right decision that will benefit the child. It was also found that students from private schools asked more questions and were more involved in the class even when it was not required.

Private schools help to groom your child in a way in which they will be prepared for life and anything that can be thrown at them in the future. They are also able to get better options for internships in high school and also better employment after graduation. This will help to give the child the confidence to live the rest of their lives striving to reach greater places.

Nothing is more important than providing the right type of education to kids during their early childhood because the life-long effects of such an education on their social, emotional, and physical development can be profound. In fact, children who have had an excellent pre-school education are found to have a higher IQ than those who are not lucky enough to get such an education. That is why you are advised to get your children admitted in an international pre-school.

If you admit your kids in a Singapore private school that follows the International Preschool Curriculum, you can be certain that the children will grow as “complete” individuals. Let us now look at the benefits such a school bestows on your children and how this move can be a game-changer in their lives.

1. The curriculum followed by international preschools is comprehensive in nature. Not only that, the schools adopt an all-encompassing approach for developing critical thinking abilities as well as other essential skills in kids. Since the curriculum is based on an objective and inquiry based learning style, children are likely to excel in a number of areas that include Language Arts, Creative Arts, Numeracy, Sciences and Motor Skills and Socio-emotional Skills. Children will learn a foreign language also. So, when they grow up, they will be much ahead of other children who have studied in other schools. Regardless of whether they decide to go for employment, take up professions or launch their own business ventures, they are likely to stand out.

2. Since an international pre-school provides a creative and holistic environment that consists of child-initiated learning as well as teacher-directed tasks, the kids will be allowed to undertake exploratory tasks for understanding the theories that are taught to them. So, when they step out into the real world and when issues confront them, they will be able to tackle them easily by being creative and by coming out with innovative solutions.

3. In general, send your child to a good international preschool Singapore as there are state-of-the-art facilities for children. Kids will have adequate learning spaces because classrooms will be spacious and bright. Children will indulge in physical activities because the play spaces will also be spacious. Such an ambiance will add to the all-round development of the children and hence, they will be in possession of that “extra” factor that differentiates them from the crowd.

4. Very importantly, international pre-schools will have teachers with enviable qualifications. In fact, the preschools themselves will provide their teachers with suitable training that comprehensively equips them for molding the students the way they are supposed to do. Not only that, there will be ongoing opportunities for the teachers for facilitating their professional development and for fine-tuning and polishing their skills. This means that these teachers will have updated knowledge of the innovations that keep taking place in their fields. The teacher-to-student ratio in these schools will be low also and hence, kids will get optimal attention. In fact, these aspects will do a world of good in instilling confidence in children. Therefore, when the kids grow up, they will approach every task including those that are aimed at solving issues with an “I can” attitude.

5. International preschools involve parents of the kids in their education process. The schools communicate regularly with the parents by conducting frequent meetings and sending weekly newsletters. This is for ensuring that children do not move away from the right track. So, children who study in these schools will understand the value of values. This will help them follow only ethical ways in whatever they do.

6. More importantly, if you admit your children in a good international preschool, there are chances of they getting opportunities to study abroad. In fact, it will be easy for the children to get admission in institutions of repute in other countries. Not only that, children who study in international schools will be able to easily pick up what is taught in those foreign institutions. They will be able to easily adjust to the new ambiance. So, when they come out after completing their studies, they can have a grand take-off in their profession or career.

When Jason Fazio awakened the morning of his 41st birthday, he could never have imagined that his life was about to change forever. The fire call came in at 10:13 am, January 10, 2011. While searching for victims in the building, Jason was caught in a flashover. Engulfed in flames, he leaped from a 2nd-floor window to save his own life, resulting in debilitating and career-ending injuries. With third degree burns to over half his body, as well as fractured bones, Jason was airlifted to St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston, NJ, where he remains today.

Jason is a 17-year career veteran of the Asbury Park Fire Department and a dad to two boys, Nicholas and Nathan. This tragic event has forever changed their young lives as well. Even as immediate emotional support has been overwhelming, a lifetime of financial support is our objective. A severe burn injury is arguably the most devastating of all firefighting injuries by every measure of pain, suffering, and cost, exacting a great human and financial toll. We can never change what happened, but with your help, we can change the financial burdens of their future.

I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the fireman has to do believe that his is a noble calling. Our proudest moment is to save lives. ~Edward F. Croker

On June 20, 2011, the Professional Firefighters Association of Asbury Park will be holding its 13thannual Golf Tournament at Cruz Farms Golf Club in Farmingdale, NJ to benefit the many charities that our organization supports. Most of the players who are participating represent professional firefighters throughout New Jersey. With over 175 players taking part, it is one of the largest single-day golf tournaments held in the state.

Our non-profit charities organization contributes to many worthwhile causes during the year. Some of the recipients of this fund are Asbury Park Pop Warner, Monmouth County Boys Club, Biddy Basketball, Asbury Park Soccer and Little League. Others include the Monmouth County Food Bank, Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Breast Cancer Foundation, Adopt-A-Family at Christmas, Widows and Children’s Fund of New York Fire Department, National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease, Sloan Kettering, and St. Barnabas Burn Center.

Our organization along with the other charities that we assist would greatly appreciate your support by purchasing a foursome and/or a hole sponsorship. Click here for Foursome Registration Form and here for Hole-Sponsor Registration.

About me

Dawn Richards is a 45-year-old government politician who enjoys podcasting, running and extreme ironing. He is intelligent and creative, but can also be very rude and a bit grumpy.